Bukayo Saka followed up his Champions League heroics by paying a special visit to a talented former footballer who made the bold transition into coaching. The Arsenal ace fired the Gunners into their first Champions League final for 20 years with the winning goal over Atletico Madrid at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Surprise Visit to Academy Training
Fresh off the back of that triumph, the England star visited a North London academy training session to help highlight coaching as a fulfilling pathway that allows ex-players to stay in the game. The surprise visit saw Saka meet academy coach Ibrahim Fuad, whose promising playing career was cut short when his Australian club was unable to continue sponsoring his visa. With funding from the Chase football coaching programme, Ibrahim completed his Introduction to Coaching Football qualification and has since launched his own football academy.
Shared Journeys and Inspiring Stories
The pair discussed their respective journeys, reflecting on how only 0.5% of registered academy players go on to turn professional. By pivoting into a career in coaching, players who don’t turn professional can stay connected to the game while building transferable skills and becoming role models in their local communities.
Saka, 24, said: “Not everyone’s path in football looks the same, and for many players who don’t go on to play professionally, coaching is a brilliant and rewarding way to stay involved. It was really inspiring to meet Ibrahim and his team to hear about his journey and see the impact he’s having within the community. The Chase football coaching programme is so important; by expanding access to skills training and pathways into coaching, it’s helping to build positive role models for young people and inspire the next generation.”
Research Highlights Coaching Benefits
New YouGov research, commissioned by Chase, highlights the importance of coaching as a pathway beyond playing careers: 93% of former players across all levels view coaching as a valuable way for former players to stay connected to football, while two thirds (67%) agree that free coaching qualifications would keep more ex-players involved in the game.
The Chase football coaching programme is helping create more opportunities for people to get into football coaching across the U.K., by providing fully funded access to introductory coaching qualifications and professional coaching bursaries for people from low-income backgrounds in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Since 2024, Chase has funded 7,000 coaching qualifications, of which 4,046 have been completed so far.
Ibrahim Fuad's Testimony
Chase football coaching beneficiary, Ibrahim Fuad, commented: “Football has always been a huge part of my life, and when my playing journey came to an end, coaching gave me new hope. It’s allowed me to help young players develop, not just as footballers, but as people. Having access to funded coaching qualifications through the Chase programme made that transition possible for me, and it’s something that can make a real difference for so many former players who still have so much to give back to the game.”
Chase's Commitment
Deborah Keay, Chief Marketing Officer at Chase, added: “At Chase, we’re passionate about helping players continue their journey in football. By providing access to funded football coaching qualifications, the Chase football coaching programme is helping more people stay in the game, develop valuable transferable skills and become positive role models in their communities. Our aim is to create long-lasting impact across the U.K. by supporting more individuals to take their next step into coaching.”
For more information on the Chase football coaching programme, visit the official website.
